"I am grateful to have this opportunity to learn how the best counter-terrrorism forces in the world operate on a daily basis," Sixta Rhinehart said.

Sixta Rinehart will travel to Tel Aviv May 27 for a 10-day intensive study experience that will include lectures by academic and military intelligence officials as well as diplomats from Israel, Jordan, India and the United States. In addition, fellows will learn how law enforcement policies, customs procedures, immigration facilities, military bases and border zone patrol work to deter and defeat terrorists.

She said the experience will enrich her research and improve her knowledge of international terrorism and counter-terrorism for teaching strategies in the classroom. Later this year, her book “Volatile Social Movements and The Origins of Terrorism: The Radicalization of Change” will be released by Lexington Books.

Sixta Rinehart, who earned her doctoral degree in political science from USC in 2008, is the fourth USC professor to be named a FDD academic fellow. Previous fellows were Katherine Barbieri and Mathieu Deflem in USC’s College of Arts and Sciences, and Colin Pierce from USC Beaufort.

The FDD is a non-partisan policy institute headquartered in Washington, D.C.. 2012 marks the 10th year for the academic fellows program.